ERGO 2.1

• Types of Information


  • Static Information
  • Dynamic Information
  • Quantitative
  • Qualitative
• Static Information


  Unchanging text, plots, charts, labels, or diagrams
• Static Information


  • Printed text
  • Static computer screen text
  • Labels
  • Diagrams
• Dynamic Information


  Continuously updated information
• Quantitative


  Specific numerical values
• Quantitative


  • 50˚F
  • 60 rpm
• Qualitative


  General values or trends
• Qualitative


  • Up
  • Down
  • Hot
  • Cold
• Types of Information


  • Status
  • Warnings
• Status


  Reflecting limited conditions
• Status


  • On/off
  • Stop/caution/go
• Warnings


  Indicating emergencies or unsafe conditions
• Warnings


  • Fire alarm
• Types of Information


  • Alphanumeric
  • Representational
• Alphanumeric


  Using letters and numbers
• Alphanumeric


  • Signs
  • Labels
• Representational


  Using pictures, symbols, and colors
• Representational


  • "Wastebasket" icon for deleted files
• Time-Phased


  Pulsed signals varying in duration and interval
• Time-Phased


  • Morse code
  • Blinking lights
• Display Modality


  • Vision is the most developed and used sense for receiving information
  • Hearing is the second most used sense for receiving information
• Relative Judgment


  Direct comparison of two stimuli
• Relative Judgment


  • Comparing two temperature readings side-by-side
• Absolute Judgment


  No direct comparison; relies on working memory
• Absolute Judgment


  • Remembering a temperature reading to compare with a future one
• Compatibility


  • Conceptual Compatibility
  • Movement Compatibility
  • Spatial Compatibility
  • Modality Compatibility
• Conceptual Compatibility


  Meaningfulness of codes to users
• Conceptual Compatibility


  • Red for danger/stop, pictorial symbols like female/male icons for restrooms
• Movement Compatibility


  Relationship between control movement and system response
• Movement Compatibility


  • Joystick movement corresponding to on-screen cursor movement
• Spatial Compatibility


  Physical arrangement of controls and displays
• Spatial Compatibility


  • Grouping related controls together for intuitive use
• Modality Compatibility


  Using the same stimulus modality for signals and responses
• Modality Compatibility


  • Verbal tasks with auditory signals and spoken responses
  • Spatial tasks with visual displays and manual responses
• Analog Display Designs


  • Fixed Scale with Moving Pointer is the preferred design as it maintains compatibility principles
• Moving Scale with Fixed Pointer violates one compatibility principle
• Moving Scale with Fixed Pointer


  Suitable for very large scales that can't fit on a fixed scale display
• Digital Displays for Precision

  • Ideal for static numeric values, not suitable for rapidly changing values or trend identification
• Digital counters failed as a "high-tech" feature for automobile speedometers due to rapid changes in speed
• Display Basic Features


  • Numerical progression on scale should be orderly, with major markers at intervals of 10 and intermediate markers at 5, 15, 25, etc.
  • Pointer tip should meet but not overlap the smallest scale markers
  • Pointer position should be close to the scale surface to avoid parallax errors